Darren Royle reveals Wigan Athletic struggle during Covid-19 pandemic

Like the rest of football clubs in the land, Latics are waiting to learn if and when the season will be able to resume, with the possibility of games being played behind closed doors to complete the remaining fixtures.

And Latics are certainly not alone in feeling the pinch off the field with revenue streams having dried up.

The cash-flow situation was helped earlier this month with the playing squad accepting a wage deferral - understood to be in the region of 30 per cent - while a number of non-playing staff have also been placed on furlough.

"It's a difficult time for all clubs at the moment," acknowledged the Latics executive chairman, speaking to Sky Sports News.

"With us in particular, we're relying on ownership funding as well, and we've lost both football and rugby league fixtures.

"We've lost a significant amount of income over the period, and it's no secret player wages are the biggest part of our outgoings.

"That's why it was a huge help for us to get the agreement in place, it was a piece of work we wanted to get over the line.

"That's testament to the support of our staff and the players as well...it's been a combined team effort.

"Fortunately for us, it only took us about a week to go through, and everybody pulled together as a team.

"I think the process is as complex as you want to make it sometimes."